Improvement in wire-fence stretchers



H. s0HfiLGE'N. Wire-Fence Stretohers.

- No. 195,955. Patented Oct. 9, 1877.

ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, FMOTDMTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE.

HUBERT SOHULGEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN WIRE-FENCE STRETCHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 195,955, dated October 9, 1877; application filed September 14, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBERT SoHiiLeEN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Device for Stretching Wire Fences, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a wire fence with my improved stretching device; and Figs. 2 and 3 are, respectively, detail side and top views of the stretching device.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish for wire fences, trellises, &c., an improved device for keeping the individual wires of the same in perfectly-taut position in a cheap, simple, and durable manner 5 and the invention consists of a U-shaped springclamp attached to each wire, and having a winding-up roller, turned by a key and locked by recesses of the clamp binding on an inclined projecting tooth of the roller.

In the drawing, A represents the springclamp, made of U shape, and of suitable bandiron. The spi ng-clainp A is attached at the bent part, by a. short wire, to the fence-post, while the open part supports in suitable holes the winding-up roller B, which is perforated for attaching the fence-wire. The fence-wire may also be passed through the hole of the roller, and then through the hole at the curved part of the springclamp, and out through the same to the post, where it is attached.

The fence-wires are preferably retained, by staples, eyes, or otherwise, on the posts, walls, 860., one of the stretching devices being used for every length of about three hundred feet.

The roller B projects atone end beyond the spring-clamp, the extension being of square shape, to attach a common key thereto.

The other end of the roller B is provided with a projecting tooth, to, that bears against the inside of the spring-clamp, being made inclined at one side and vertical at the edge, so

as to raise the end of the clamp on turning the roller, and pass the tooth from one recess, b, of the springclamp around the roller-pivot to the other.

The spring action of the clamp causes the binding of the recessed end on the tooth ofthe roller, and thereby the rigid locking of the same in position.

For tightening the fence or trellis wires, the rollers are turned by the key, and the wires wound up on the same, according to the degree of tension desired to be given to them.

The locking action of the recessed springclamp on the roller retains the wirein stretched position without a ratchet-and-pawl device, which is liable to get rusty and inoperative by the influence of moisture.

The spring-clamp and stretching-roller are galvanized, so as to be durable and capable to resist the atmospheric influences, the device being at any moment ready for work, and of cheap construction, so as to form a simple and effective stretching device for the wires of fences and trellises for vines, hops, and espaliers.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcnt 1. A stretching device for fence and trellis wires, composed of a U-shaped spring-clamp, connected to the fence-wire, and a winding-up roller, that may be turned in one direction, but securely locked bythe spring-clamp in opposite direction, to keep the fence-wire taut, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the U-shaped spring clamp A, having bearings for the winding-up roller, and recesses at one end around the pivot of the roller, with a stretching-roller, 1;, having a locking-tooth projecting into one of the recesses, substantially as set forth.

HUBERT SOHULGEN.

Witnesses:

PAUL GoErEL, G. SEnGwroK. 

